2 
SEED DISPERSAL. 
can remember — that most animals move about when- 
ever they want to, or whenever other animals will let 
them. 
2. Some animals catch rides in one way or another. — 
Some small animals, like lice, ticks, and tiny spiders, 
walk slowly and only for short distances. If, because of 
scarcity of food, they are suddenly seized with the desire 
to move for a long distance, what are they to do ? On 
such occasions ticks and lice watch quietly the first 
opportunity, catch on to the feet of birds or flying insects 
or other animals which may happen to come their way, 
and, like a boy catching on to a farmer’s sleigh, ride till 
they get far enough, then jump off or let go, to explore the 
surrounding country and see whether it is fit to live in. 
If for some reason a spider grows dissatisfied and wants 
to leave the home spot, she climbs to the top of some 
object and spins out a fine, long web ; this floats in the 
air, and after a while becomes so long and light that the 
wind will bear the thread and the spinner for a consider- 
able distance, no one knows how far. These facts about 
lice and spiders show how wingless insects can go long 
distances without wings of their own. 
How is it with plants? The woods, fields, marshes, 
roadsides ever abound with interesting objects provided 
with strange devices waiting to be studied by inquisitive 
girls and boys in and out of school, and this finding out 
of nature’s puzzles is one of the deepest pleasures of life. 
How quickly a mould attacks and creeps or 
spreads 
om 
